duceditor

Funny how things one once took for granted -- that they'd always be around! -- can suddenly become so hard to find.

OK, maybe I shouldn't say "suddenly" -- heck, I've been away from bicycling for a long, long time. 30 Years! But now with my (and my wife's) 1969 and 1967 respectively Raleighs back in regular use, I SO MUCH want to find the type of saddle bag that almost everyone once had hanging off their Brooks B17.

Somebody? Anybody? An idea please!

-don

randyjawa 

In you seek saddle bags through Ebay, focusing on the Vintage Bicycles section, you will run across one or two from time to time. Not an unusual item to see there. You can also have a look at Collectibles/Transportation/Bicycles for another opportunity to find the bags.

Have a look at this one on Ebay

Hope this is a help.

frenchbikefan

https://www.etsy.com/listing/66022413...ag?ref=pr_shop I like the way these look, but not vintage and maybe not exactly what you are looking for

Maddox

There's a lot of options that resemble the old black vinyl "leather-looking" bags, but I'd just as soon go with a modern treated Cotton-design or something similar. The nicest out there are Acorn, Zimbale, Brooks England, or Carradice bags -- all of which will be around $100 on sale.

I have a Minnehaha bag, and it does the job. Not as nice or as bombproof as a Carradice, but still a great bag for lighter loads.

To get a real genuine vinyl Brooks or Raleigh bag however, you'll probably need to know someone who has some lying around, or scour Ebay and Craigslist.

blaise_f

I've seen vintage Brooks trunk bags go for 30-40 USD on eBay recently. Otherwise, you're probably looking at something custom-made.

duceditor

Thanks Randyjawa. I have searched as you've said and even come upon that particular vendor.

That bag is pretty much what I have in mind, although it appears a bit large. Also, FWIW, seeing the vendor's line of supposed NOS I've become convinced that they are spinoffs, but for instance "Brooks" as this one says. But I'll certainly keep looking as you suggest.

-don

TheOtherGuy

Evil EBAY.

mkeller234

I've got a generic one that I can sell for 10 dollars. It's not a high quality bag but it looks the part I guess. The straps to hang it did not hold up so I used old toe clip straps to do the job.

Here it is on my bicycle last year:

ScottRyder 

I bought a Brooks Glenbrook saddlebag a few years ago from eBay. I lucked out, it seemed to fly under the radar and I got it fairly inexpensive. Nicer quality than I expected too.

Scott

blaise_f

They have gone fairly cheap for a while - the modern reproduction is only $100 new, which keeps the price of the older ones down (even if they were made better!). I use a vintage one and absolutely love it.

Mike Mills

Get a new one from a Brooks retailer, or order one from Brooks. I offer that with great sincerity, as I was recently disappointed buying an imitation saddle bag. It cost almost as much but wasn't anywhere near as good.

bbattle

Acorn always seems to be out of stock and when stock does come in, it's gone in a day.

If you e-mail them, they will provide you a paypal link to prepay for your order. Preordering guarantees you'll get what you want.

I'm waiting on a tubular bag for my Pinarello and a handlebar bag for my commuter.

https://www.acornbags.com/products.html

AZORCH

Check out Carradice. I love their quality and I can't speak highly enough of the people there either. Contacted them earlier this year and a nice woman named Maggie dealt with my issue immediately and personally.

I just picked up a vintage Carradice saddle bag from the CR list; it arrived today and I'm tickled pink: vintage look, kind of road weary, but looks like it should last just about forever.

Mike Mills

Gone in 60 seconds is more like it! Inventory does not last even a tiny fraction of a day there.

I don't do Paypal, any more. Is that the only method they accept for prepayment? I've been trying for over a year now with no luck. That's why I bought the alternative product with which I am not happy. <whine, whine, whine>

wahoonc

Carradice and Brooks still make vintage style bags today, I have both and they are of decent quality and are usually fairly easy to source. I usually buy direct from the manufacturer, possibly SJS Cycles or Wallingford Bicycle. The prices seem high, but this is one case where you get what you pay for, and they will last, unlike some cheaper knock offs.

Aaron

gna

I think forum member Zaphod Beeblebrox is selling saddlebags under the name Alario Accessories.

Velognome 

The large Acorn bag has a very "vintage British" look to it. I snagged a leather raleigh clubman bag NOS off eBay.uk a few years back, was the only bidder. The uk site usually has a good selection of ratty old bicycle bags.

buldogge

Acorn bags (black) go on sale tomorrow morning FWIW...

bernardmarx

Wiggle (UK) has them reasonably cheap from time to time. They also have Brooks B17s at competitive prices. You can usually get (new) Brooks items from them cheaper than any U.S. source in my (limited) experience.

southpawboston

I have the same bag that mkeller showed on his Raleigh. I got it at from a local shop, Menotomy Bikes (aka oldroads.com), for $12. They had a bunch. They're NOS but smell musty from years of storage. They're cheap vinyl, but as mkeller pointed out, they at least look the part.

You could also consider a new Carradice Barley saddlebag, in black. They're British-made, just like your Raleigh, and they're quite classic looking. When Wiggle.co.uk has them in stock, they're in the $40-50 range. And you get free shipping when you order $75 worth of stuff. Get a new Brooks saddle while you're at it!

frenchbikefan

Acorn is great they have always been very helpful and fulfill my order even if I need something a little off. Need a little more width on the drop bar wrap? no problem, oh need it in honey? also no problem.